Apparatus for routing hinge seats



July 22,1958 w B. ZERN APPARATUS FOR ROUTING HINGE SEATS 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed Oct. 9, 1956 July 22, 1958 w. B. ZERN APPARATUS FOR ROUTINGHINGE SEATS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9. 1956 I nn United StatesPatent APPARATUS FOR ROUTING HINGE SEATS Warren E. Zern, near Pottstowu,Pa.

Application October 9, 1956, Serial No. 614,871

6 Claims. (Cl. 33--197) This invention relates to an improvement in thewoodworking apparatus disclosed in United States Letters Patent No.2,801,655 granted upon my copending application, Serial No. 455,890,filed September 14, 1954, and has for an object the provision of animproved apparatus for routing hinge seats in a door and jamb whereinthe jamb is of the type having an integral stop.

In doors of the interior type the customary practice is to use flatjambs for the doors and to nail or otherwise secure the door stops tothe jambs in the required position as determined when the door has beenhung on its hinges. With this type of installation the width of thehinge seat or recess is controlled by a template as disclosed in myaforesaid copending application and the distance between the rear of thehinge seat and the face of the door which is adjacent the door stop willvary depending upon variations in the width of the doors. As pointed outin my aforesaid copending application, under present manufacturingconditions doors no longer run true to size but vary in thickness fromone-sixteenth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch from end to end,particularly in regard to veneer doors. The present invention isparticularly related to exterior doors or doors of the type wherein thejambs with which they are assembled have integral stops. In this type ofjamb the stop is milled or otherwise cut from the jamb material ratherthan being a separate member attached to the jamb as is the case withinterior doors.

As the position of the door stop of an exterior type door is fixed withrespect to the edge of the jamb, it is an object of the presentinvention to route the hinge seats in the edge of the door in mannersuch that the distance between the rear of the hinge seat and the faceof the door adjacent the dOOr stop is controlled.

In accordance with the invention there is provided woodworking apparatusfor controlling the movement of a routing tool relative to a piece ofwork to maintain a predetermined dimensionbetween an edge of the workand an adjacent edge of the recess to be cut by the routing tool. Suchapparatus includes a stationary locating surface against which a pieceof work is adapted to be held and a template carrier associated with thestationary locating surface and adapted to overlie the work piece. Atemplate is disposed on the carrier in predetermined position relativeto the stationary surface and having an opening to limit the movement ofthe routing tool lengthwise of the work piece for controlling thelongitudinal dimension of the recess. Beneath. the template there isdisposed movable means to limit the extent movement of the routing tooltransversely of the work in one direction only to prevent the routingtool from moving closer to the aforesaid edge of the work within theaforesaid predetermined dimension.

For a more detailed disclosure of the invention and for further objectsand advantages thereof, reference is to be had to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

2,843,940 Patented July 22, 1958 ice Fig. 1 is an elevational view of anembodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1A is a fractional elevation view in section of a portion of theembodiment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the embodiment shown in Fig. l; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are fractional views showing in section an exterior doorinstallation and an interior door installation respectively.

The present invention is applicable to routing hinge seats in a jamb anda door, whether the door he a lefthand door or a right-hand door.Left-hand and righthand doors are terms which refer to the swing of thedoor as explained in my aforesaid copending application. In general aplurality of template assemblies will be employed with respect torouting or cutting hinge seats in a door 10 and a jamb 11 angularlyrelated to each other so that their hinge receiving surfaces will besubstantially in a common plane. However, for purposes of explanationand since all of the template assemblies are of the same construction,only one assembly 12, Figs. 1 and 2, will be described herein. It is tobe understood, of course, that two or three assemblies may beconcurrently used as disclosed in my aforesaid copending applicationwhere three template assemblies have been illustrated at spacedlocations along a jig frame assembly, such locations being predeterminedfor the proper position of the hinge seats to be routed in the edge ofthe door.

As pointed out above the present invention is particularly directed tothe routing of hinge seats in doors for width of the hinge seat may varywith variations in thickness of the door 10. However, such variationswill not impair the fit of the door with respect to the stop 11w. Toaccomplish the foregoing, the face 10a of the door 10 adapted to beinstalled adjacent the stop 11a is placed against a locating surface andanother locating surface engages the opposite face of the door 10. Acutting tool such as a router is moved over the edge of the door to makea hinge seat in it and the movement of the cutting tool is blockedtransversely of the edge of the door to control the width of the hingeseat with reference to the face of the door adapted to be assembledadjacent the stop 11a. In this manner a predetermined dimension X ismaintained between that face of the door and the rear of the hinge seatto provide uniform clearance between the door 10 and the stop 11:: whenin assembled relation regardless of non-uniform thickness of doors.

This arrangement differs from that shown in my aforesaid copendingapplication. In the aforesaid application the width of the hinge seatillustrated by dimension Y in Fig. 4 was controlled by the template ofthe template assemblies. As can be seen from Fig. 4 any variation inthickness of door 16 will require a corresponding movement in theposition of stop member 11a of jamb 11. Since the stop member 11a isseparate from jamb 11 it may be installed in the required positiondepending upon the thickness of door 10. Thus as long as separate doorstopping 11a, such as generally employed on interior doors, is used thewidth of the hinge seat, dimension Y, Fig. 4, may be controlled and itis still possible to avoid binding between the door and the door stopeven with non-uniform thickness of doors. However, when the door stop isintegral with the jamb as shown in Fig. 3 and the doors run non-uniformin thickness there is a likelihood that bindingwill result when the dooris hung on its hinges 13 unless dimension X is controlled as set forthin accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 the template assembly 12 is provided with a frame orcarrier 15 adapted to extend over the hinge receiving edge of the door11 as well as the hinge receiving surface of the jam 11. In the normalrouting position the carrier 15 will lie in a substantially horizontalplane parallel to the plane of the jamb whereas the normal plane of thedoor will be substantially perpendicular to this plane and thus lie in asubstantially vertical plane, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Each of thetemplate carriers 15 includes a downwardly extending section 16 adaptedto space the door 10 and the jamb 11 from each other during the routingoperation. in order to clamp the template assembly 12 to the door Nthere is provided a second downwardly extending section 17 preferablyprovided with a threaded opening through which extends the threadedclamping member 18. The threaded member 18 is adapted to be rotated bymeans of a knob 19. The inner end of member 18 is provided with a plateor pad 20 which is adapted to move against one face 10a of the door 10and clamp the opposite face of the door 10 against door locating surface22, 22, Figs. 1 and 2. To prevent the clamping .pad 20 from rotatingfrom adjustment of clamping screw 18 the pad 20 is provided with a pairof spaced guide pins 24 that slide in openings in section 17 during theclamping operation.

To adapt the template assembly 12 for use in either square-edge doors orbevel-edge doors, the clamping surfaces of members 22 and 20 areparallel to each other and are disposed at an angle slightly greaterthan a right angle with respect to the upper surface of the templateframe 15. The aforementioned angle is aproximately 93.5", the 3.5corresponding to the taper on the finished hinge seats from the open endof the hinge seat to the rear. The taper is provided to prevent the doorfrom becoming hinge bound, all as more fully described in my aforesaidpatent application. The under surface of frome 15 at each end isprovided with adjacent locating surfaces 15a and 15b to engage the hingereceiving edge of the door. The surface 15a is at right angles tolocating surface 22 and cooperates with it to locate a square-edge door.The surface 15]) locates a bevel-edge door in similar manner as morefully described in Schwarzer Patent No. 2,605,790 assigned to me.

After the template assembly has been secured to the edge of door 10 bytightening the knob 19 of the clamping screw, the jamb 11 is ready to beclamped in position relative to the door 10. Depending from the bottomof the template carrier 15 and projecting outwardly from downwardlyextending section 16 is a jamb bracket 30 having an opening 31 extendingtherethrough ina diagonal direction with respect to the carrier 15. Apivotal supporting member 32 extends transversely of the opening 31 withits axis substantially parallel to the normally horizontal plane of thetemplate frame or carrier 15. Pivotal member 32 is provided with aninternally threaded opening through which a clamping member 34 isscrewed. The clamping member 34 is adapted to engage the under side ofjamb 11 to force it upwardly so that the upper surface of the jamb 11will engage the lower surface of frame 15 as in Fig. 1, and also to movethe forward edge, or hinge seat edge of the jamb against the locatingsurface 35, Fig. 2. It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the frame 15 hasbeen cut away at the left-hand side to permit the integral jamb stop 11ato project above the bottom of frame 15. The pivotal support 32 isspring-biased as by a spring member 33, 'one end of which engages thepivotal support 32 and the opposite end of which engages a pin 29extending from member 30.

The novel features of the jamb clamp per se are claimed in my aforesaidcopending application. The jamb clamp 34 eliminates the necessity ofmaking any separate adjustments to correct for diiferences in jambwidths.

When the jamb 11 is inserted in the space below frame 15 and abovebracket member 30, the point 340: in clamp 34 first will engage theunder-surface of jamb 11, followed by cam surface 36 to move the uppersurface of the jamb ,against the bottom of template frame 15. The point34a penetrates the jamb surface and acts as a pilot or guide for camsurface 36 preventing the latter from rolling the jamb lengthwise of thejig when the knob of clamp 34 is turned to tighten the clamp on thejamb. Due to the oblique angle formed between the plane of templateframe 15 and the axis of clamping member 34 the jamb 11 is diagonallymoved upward and over until it engages the bottom of template frame 15.Upon further inward adjustment of clamp 34 and with the second camsurface 37 now engaging the under-surface of the jamb 11, the jamb 11will be moved horizontally to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, against thelocating surface 35, 35. The amount of horizontal movement will be generally relatively small, such for example, in the order of A to A2",since the jamb 11 will ordinarily be inserted almost into its properposition by the operator before he tightens the clamping member 34. Theaction of the clamping member 34 is such that after engagement of pin 34a and cam surface 36 with the under-side o'f jamb 11 there will be aslight clockwise rotation of clamp 34 about its pivotal support 32 asviewed in Fig. 1 accompanied by engagement of the second cam surface 37with the under-side of jamb 11. As a result of the foregoing action thehinge receiving edge of jamb 11 will be-forced tightly against the"bottom of template frame 15 and jamb locating surfaces 35, 35.

When a change is made in the thickness of the jamb stock in the order ofA" or more it is preferable to make a corresponding change in theposition of jamb bracket 30 relative to the template frame 15. Toaccomplish this the jamb bracket 30 is provided with a pair of slots30!) through which extend lock screws 30a, the latter locking the jambbracket to member 16 at the selected position.

The template frame 15 is provided with a top plate 40 having an openingtherein to receive the template 41, the latter having a cut-outincluding two side openings interconnected by another opening to guide arouting tool 44, Fig. 1, during the routing of the hinge seats. Thehinge seat opening 41a forms one of the side openings of the cut-out andthe opening 41b forms the other side opening of the cut-out. Theopenings 41a and 41b are interconnected by a narrow passage or areabetween the openings which corresponds to the spacing between the door10 and jamb 11, Fig. 1. The opening 41a corresponds to the hinge seat tobe routed in the hinge receiving surface of jamb 11. The opening 41b hasa somewhat greater width than opening 410: the purpose of which will nowbe described.

As previously pointed out this invention is particularly applicable torouting hinge seats in doors and jambs wherein the jaimbs are of thetype having a fixed or integral stop member as illustrated in Figs. 1and 3. For that reason the dimension between the face of the dooradapted to be installed adjacent the stop 11a and the rear of the hingeseat in the door, dimension X, Fig. 3, should be maintained uniformregardless of any irregularity or non uniformity in the thickness of thedoor 10. To accomplish the foregoing the movable member 20, Figs. 1 and1A, is provided with a gauge member 59 which is adapted to extendbeneath the template 41 but above the hinge receiving edge of the doorfor engaging the collar 51 surrounding the cutting tool 52 of the router44. The gauge member 50 is adju-sta'bly mounted on member 20 as byscrews 53 and shim washers 54. With this arrange ment it is possible tovary the amount of material remaining between the hinge seat and theedge of the door after the routing operation, i. e. to vary thedimension X, Fig. 3. From the foregoing description it will be seen thatthe length of the hinge seat in the door is controlled by the opening41b in the template 41 while the width of the hinge seat is controlledby means of the gauge or guide member 50 carried by the movable clampingmember beneath the template 41. The gauge member 50 limits thetransverse movement of the cutting tool in one direction only.

As the door and jamb are in spaced relation during the routing operationsupporting blocks 56 and 57, preferably of wood, are provided to engagethe corresponding edges of the jamb and door into which the hinge seatsare to be routed. The blocks 56 and 57 engage the outer edges of thejamb and door to prevent these edges from being chipped or splinteredduring the routing operation. Since the blocks 56 and 57 are constructedfrom wood or other relatively soft material, they do not damage thecutter blade 52 of the router 44. The blocks 56 and 57 are held in placebeneath the template carrier 15 by means of spaced screws 60, thebottoms of which are provided with pads 61 as shown in Fig. 1.

As previously mentioned, only one template assembly 12 has beenillustrated. However, a series may be employed as described in myaforesaid copending application. The template assemblies are providedwith an opening 16a in member 16 in order that they may be mounted on aframe adapted to extend lengthwise of the door. Such frame enables theoperator to maintain the various template assemblies in predeterminedspaced relation during assembly and disassembly of the templates onsucceeding doors and jam'bs.

While there has been described a preferred embodiment of the invention,it will be understood that further modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Woodworking apparatus for controlling the movement of a routing toolrelative to a piece of work to maintain a predetermined dimensionbetween an edge of the work and an adjacent edge of the recess to be cutby the routing tool comprising a stationary locating surface againstwhich a piece of work is adapted to be held, a template carrierassociated with said stationary locating surface and adapted to overliethe work piece, a template disposed on said carrier in predeterminedposition relative to said stationary surface and having an opening tolimit the movement of the routing tool lengthwise of the work piece forcontrolling the longitudinal dimension of the recess, and movable meansbeneath said template comprising a member for clamping the work againstsaid stationary surface and a gauge member movable with adjustment ofsaid clamping member to limit the extent of movement of the rout-ingtool transversely of the work in one direct-ion only to prevent therouting tool from moving closer to said edge of the work than saidpredetermined dimension.

2. Woodworking apparatus for controlling the movement of a routing toolrelative to a piece of work to maintain a predetermined dimensionbetween an edge of the work and an adjacent edge of the recess to be cutby the routing tool comprising a stationary locating surface againstwhich a piece of work is adapted to be held, a template carrierassociated with said stationary locating surface and adapted to overliethe work piece, a template disposed on said carrier in predeterminedposition relative to said stationary surface and having an opening tolimit the movement of the routing tool lengthwise of the Work piece forcontrolling the longitudinal dimension of the recess, movable meansbeneath said template to limit the extent of movement of the routingtool transversely of the work in one direction only to prevent therouting tool from moving closer to said edge of the work than saidpredetermined dimension, a second locating surface against which anotherpiece of work is adapted to be held, and means for clamping a piece ofwork against said second locating surface and beneath said templatecarrier, said template having interconnected openings adapted to guidethe movement of the routing tool with respect to both pieces of work.

3. Woodworking apparatus for guiding the movement of a routing toolduring the routing of hinge seats in a door adapted for installationwith a jam'b having an integral stop comprising a template carrierincluding a template adapted to overlie the edge of a door, a locatingsurface disposed beneath said template carrier in predetermined relationwith respect to said template and against which a face of the door isadapted to be positioned, movable means for clamping the door againstsaid locating surface, and gauge means carried by said movable means forcontrolling the width of the hinge seat with reference to the other faceof the door adapted to be installed adjacent the stop whereby apredetermined dimension is maintained between said last-named face ofthe door and the rear of the hinge seat to provide uniform clearancebetween the door and stop when in assembled relation regardless ofnon-uniform thickness of doors.

4. Woodworking apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said movable meanscomprises a threaded member having a plate at one end adapted to engagesaid last-named face of the door and opposed to said locating surface,and means for rotating said threaded member without rotating said plateto move said plate into and out of clamping relation with the door.

5. Woodworking apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said locatingsurface is disposed intermediate the edges of said template carrier, asecond locating surface in spaced relation to said first-named surface,means for clamping a jamb against said second locating surface, saidtemplate being adapted to overlie both the door and the jamb, and saidtemplate having interconnecting openings adapted to guide the movementof the routing tool with respect to both the jamb and the door forcutting hinge seats therein.

6. Woodworking apparatus for gm'ding the movement of a cutting toolrelative to the edge of a door during the installation of hinge seatstherein comprising tem plate means adapted to overlie the hinge seatreceiving edge of the door, a stationary surface disposed beneath saidtemplate means against which a face of the door is adapted to "bepositioned with respect to said template means, the open front end ofthe hinge seat being adapted to be adjacent said first-named door face,movable means for clamping said first-named door face against saidstationary surface, and gauge means movable concurrently with adjustmentof said movable means for controlling the width of the hinge seat withreference to the other face of the door whereby a predetermineddimension is maintained between said last-named face of the door and therear of the hinge seat to provide a uniform thickness of uncut materialbetween the rear of the hinge seat and said last-named face of the doorregardless of non-uniform thickness of doors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS761,861 Wagner .Tune 7, 1904 1,326,582 Catalanotto M Dec. 30, 19 191,326,583 Catalanotto Dec. 30, 19-19

